"Ohio Governor John Kasich was the only candidate not named Donald Trump attacked in the undercard debate.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham attacked him twice, including in his final answer, for being weak on defense, saying Kasich would close four U.S. military bases.

Graham campaign manager Christian Ferry explained after the debate’s conclusion, “He and Governor Kasich have a very different view on what it takes to win this war and what it takes to have a prepared military ready to do it. They have a fundamental disagreement.”

Even though Kasich is refusing to mention his rivals by name to draw contrasts at this point in the race, his communications director, Rob Nichols, told Reuters Graham’s claims are “nonsense.”

“We want to end the sequestration on defense, spend more on defense where necessary, but reform the Pentagon,” Nichols said, providing evidence of Kasich’s previous calls to increase the U.S. naval fleet if he becomes commander in chief."

by cassandra.garrison9/17/2015 12:17:39 AM

Gee, good thing Trump wasn't speaking in a braggadocious way when he mentioned his billions. (Did I spell that right?) #GOPDebate

Our time calculations from reporter and debate time keeper Megan Cassella show that Lindsey Graham dominated the previous debate with nearly 20 minutes at the mic. Santorum comes next with less than 16 minutes, followed by Jindal and Pataki.

Jeb Bush, once a heavy favorite for the Republican nomination, will try to energize his presidential campaign on Wednesday when he goes into a prime-time debate where Donald Trump looms large.

The former Florida governor, an establishment Republican, has been overshadowed by Trump's bomb-throwing rhetoric in the contest to become the party's candidate for the November 2016 presidential election.

A Bush campaign aide said Jeb will focus on his “hopeful, optimistic vision” for how he would lead the country and that if an opportunity presents itself to contrast himself with Trump, he will take it. “He’s not going to shy away on the Trump front,” said the aide.

Lindsey Graham wants to talk about ISIS, and he used every opportunity he could in Wednesday night’s debate for lower-polling candidates– even when he was asked about something else.

The South Carolina senator devoted his minute-long introduction time to argue for the use of troops to fight ISIS. An hour into the debate, Graham mentioned at least three times that he’s made 35 trips to Iraq and Afghanistan. Asked about the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage, Graham squeezed in a reference to ISIS.

“Whether you’re the wedding cake baker, the gay couple, or preacher – radical Islam would kill you all if they could,” Graham said.

WASHINGTON A Russian propaganda arm oversaw a criminal and espionage conspiracy to tamper in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign to support Donald Trump and disparage Hillary Clinton, said an indictment released on Friday that revealed more details than previously known about Moscow's purported effort to interfere. | Video

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